NORTHERN TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 104, 4 May 1929, Page 12

NORTHERN TOUR.

MINISTER'S BIG PROGRAMME. SETTLEMENT AND DRAINAGE. NOXIOUS WEEDS PROBLEM. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. For nearly three weeks the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, will be touring Auckland province, investigating land settlement, the noxious weeds problem, swamp drainage, and other matters. The Minister's itinerary provides for crowded days and busy evenings with deputations. He will look into swamp drainage schemes in Waikato, and throughout the tour will have an eye to suitable land for close settlement. "On the agricultural side," remarked Mr. Forbes to your correspondent, "the biggest problem is noxious weeds. I will be accompanied by Dr. Eeakes, DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, and it is proposed to hold conferences with the object of discussing remedial measures. It seems at present as if the most practicable course is to secure complete organisation of farmers, local bodies and the Agricultural Department to cope with the difficulty." The Minister's itinerary is as follows: Saturday, May 4: Leave for New Plymouth. Sunday, May 5: New Plymouth. Monday, May 6: Leave New Plymouth for Waitara, Awakino, . Mokau, Aria. Piopio, Te Ivuiti. Tuesday, May 7: Leave Te Kuiti for Mair.oa, Waitangaru, Te Anga; return to Te Kuiti.

Wednesday, May 8: Leave Te Kuifci for Otorohaiiga, Honikiwi, etc., and reach Pirongia at 3.30 p.m. 5 thence to Hamilton, °G p.m.; meet Land Settlement Lea<nie, 8 p.m.; meet directors of the New Zealand Dairy Company, 9 p.m. Thursday, May 9: Visit Woodlands drainage areas; meet deputations from Drainage Boards and Swamp Development League in the evening. Friday, May, 10: Leave Hamilton for Ngaruawahia and Taupiri; meet Mangawara Drainage Board, inspect portions of river; thence to Huntly and liotowaro; stay at Huntly overnight. Saturday, May 11: Leave Huntly for Glenmurray, via Pukemiro; thence to Mr.

Alma Baker's property and Tuakau, where stay the night. Sunday,.-May 12: Leave Tuakau for Auckland. •> Monday, May 13: Leave Auckland for Otahuhu; 9.30 a.m., deputation from Auckland milk producers; thence Papatoetoe; deputation from Egg Producers' Association; proceed to Papakura for lunch; inspection of Franklin County as arranged; stay the night at Waiuku. Tuesday, May 14: Franklin County; stay the night at Pukekohe; deputations in the evening. Wednesday, May 15: Leave for Te Kauwliata; deputations from fruit producers and Town Board; inspect the district and lunch at 1.30 p.m.; proceed to Mercer; inspect portion of Whangamaririo swamp, and meet deputations in the evening; stay at Mercer. Thursday, May 1G: Leave for Maramarua, where meet deputations regarding aiforestation and opening up of Crown lands in that district; proceed to Etakaruru; meet deputations re drainage, etc., district inspections, and proceed to Ngatea; deputations from the Veterinary Club requesting Government assistance, and from the Hauraki Plains County Council re tall fescue; stay the night at Kerepeelii. Friday, May 17: Deputations at Kerepeehi; proceed to Turua, Orongo Settlement and Thames; leave Thames at 2 p.m. and proceed to Coromandel, arriving at 4.30 p.m.; take deputations; stay the night. Saturday, May 18: Leave Coromandel for Thames; make inspections in the afternoon; take deputations; stay at Thames overnight. Sunday, May 19: Proceed to Waihi. Monday, May 20: Make inspections; meet deputations, and proceed to Paeroa; deputations in the evening. Tuesday, May 21: S a.m. leave for Te Aroha; meet deputations and make inspections; lunch; proceed to Morrinsville, Tahuna and. Cambridge; deputations in the evening; proceed to Frankton Junction. Wednesday, May 22: . Arrive at Wellington.